RIO GRANDE

US, 1950, 105 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Maureen O’ Hara, Ben Johnson, Claude Jarman Jr, Harry Carey Jr, Chill Wills, J. Carrol Naish, Victor Mc Laglen, Grant Withers.
Directed by John Ford.

Rio Grande is the third in John Ford’s alleged trilogy, the Cavalry trilogy. It began with Fort Apache with John Wayne, Henry Fonda and Shirley Temple about Custer’s last stand. The second was She Wore a Yellow Ribbon with Wayne and Joanne Dru.

Rio Grande was not originally planned – the producers permitted Ford to make The Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O’ Hara if they made this western to make up for potential losses. (The Quiet Man was a great success and Ford won an Oscar for best director.)

The film is set in an outpost, John Wayne portraying the commander who trains the soldiers. One of them is his son whom he has not seen for many years. The son is played by Claude Jarman Jr (The Yearling, Intruder in the Dust). His wife is played by Maureen O’ Hara – although she was only twenty-nine at this time. She worked with Wayne on a number of other films including Wings of the Eagles.

The supporting cast consists of actors who appeared in many of Ford’s films, especially Ben Johnson who had just starred at the same time in the brief film, Wagon Master.

The film contributes to John Ford’s status as a portrayer of the American west, of chronicling the life of the American cavalry.

1. Was this a good example of the western film? The conventions of the western? The nature of the west? Or was this film something more than average?

2. The film as an example of a 1950 western? Black and white photography, studios and location? How have westerns changed since then?

3. The film's emphasis on the cavalry, the illustration of life in the forts, the way of life of the Cavalry men, the quality of morale? Scenes of pride, training, songs, courage? The film's portrayal of this as the heritage of the west and its later influence? How valuable?

4. The film seen as patriotic? The quality of patriotism? Of morale?

5. York, the John Wayne character and his style and ethos? The background of his particular life, the separation from wife, from his son? The involvement in the war, the west? The new encounter with his son and his style of training him? The new encounter with his wife? The differences that these made? Growing older and more experienced? The courageous western man, a failure in personal relationships, recuperating them, yet an American hero?

6. The development of the family theme? How well was this done? On the level of the cliche or something more?

7. Maureen O'Hara as Kathleen? The contrast between her husband and herself, her hold on her son, his leaving her? The music, Kathleen as a woman in the fort, as a mother? The atmosphere of the South? Her attitude towards the rules? Her change? The possibility of reconciliation?

8. York Junior, his family background, the training at West Point and his expulsion, the rebel forces, his training and proving himself? Why the need for him to prove himself?

9. The contribution of Quincannon? Irish, comedy, sentiment, attitude towards orders, training, heroism? The typical assistant officer in the American army?

10. The portrayal of the Texans, their horse riding ability, Tyree? Morale, their ability to scout etc.?

11. The portrayal of the Indians versus the Cavalry? Stock material? How well photographed?

12. The atmosphere of wagons, raids, the final raids, violence and deaths? How standard this material? Yet how well treated?

13. The necessity of the visual portrayal of the American west and its heritage?